Forager's Delight

Howdy!! It's been a while since I posted here. I've had an unexpectedly eventful winter, especially with my main job of removing invasive species. I also made more maple syrup, with a brand new product (for me): sugar maple syrup!!

So, I have a dilemma. On April 25th, there are 2 events going on that I want to attend, but I have to choose 1. There's the Garden Faire in Independence; & the Birds, Bees, & Blooms Festival in Arrow Rock.

I love Arrow Rock & did really well in the fall, plus the fee is only 10% of what I make. The Garden Faire also does quite well, is much closer, & the fee is $30, plus some free giveaways.

My question is, which would y'all rather me attend? I wish I could do a poll, but I will have to put the options in the comments. Like the comment you want me to attend.

Thanks!!

It's finally pawpaw season!! It's started heavy here!! If only I was collecting a few days ago (I found some rotten on the ground).

You know what's coming back!?

Today (9/1) is my last day of being 28. I had quite the productive & awesome day!!

So after harvesting some more (frikkin) cucumbers, tomatoes, & 2 watermelon from my garden, I decide to finish making my sweet elderberry vinegar (I already macerated the berries in apple cider vinegar, then strained it). It started raining when I was boiling.

While waiting for the rain to quit, I publish a couple of my products on Foraged & get ready to head out on a mushroom hunt.

Once I thought the rain was over, I ride my scooter to a local bike trail where I parked & hiked to my usual chanterelle spot. While there were no big enough chanterelles, there were TONS of honey mushrooms (didn't pick them, didn't know what they were until now) & some fresh oysters!! Then it rained on me...

I decide to walk down the trail b/c I didn't want to fight invasive Chinese bushclover while in the open rain. In search of chanterelles, I spot the PERFECT chicken of the woods, deep orange & nearly spotless. I was 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒚 ecstatic!! I take my knife, cut it out, & take it home after picking up some farm fresh milk.

I just now am able to sit down & type this, as I was making the sautee portion of my breakfast casserole using the oysters, then made a Cajun buttermilk marinade that I'm now soaking my COTW in for a full day.

I never thought I've be having fried chicken OTW for dinner on my birthday (9/2)!!

Open for business at Independence Uptown Market !!

I got some new menu items, including mulberry jelly (per customer request), mint chocolate chip cookies, & raspberry [ice cream] ginger [ale] floats!!